Chelsea Defender Given Another Injury Scare at the World Cup

Until he picked up a hamstring injury against PSG in March, Chelsea skipper Reece James has largely put his injury problems behind him in the last couple of years. 

The way Enzo Maresca used him - whether as an inverted right-back or simply as a nominal midfielder - massively helped James physically. If he was bombing up and down the flank all game, his body would not have been able to cope. 

So, although people did get frustrated at the more central role, and the defender not being able to get crosses in as he would have done previously, it was clearly the sensible move from Maresca. 

After the injury was picked up against PSG, there was plenty of concern regarding his participation in the FIFA World Cup. However, the 26-year old was fortunately able to return with a cameo against Liverpool, before starting against Manchester City and Sunderland. 

Fortunately, he was fit enough to start both of England's opening two games against Croatia and Ghana. Truth be told, he did play too well in either game, though he did create the best chance of the game vs Ghana. 

Nevertheless, there has now been a setback. Indeed, as Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail is reporting that there is a "Reece James concern", with the defender having a tight hamstring, and there being a "nervous wait" for England. 

Slightly awkward considering that as recently as Sunday, James said that the injury talk was boring him. Kiss of death as they say. England would be wise to rest him in their final group game against Panama, though they do need a win to guarantee that they top the group, after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Ghana last time out. 

The weird thing is that former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel did not pick a convential right-back as cover. Former Cobham defender Tino Livramento was seen as the deputy, but he picked up an injury and was replaced with Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, a central defender. 

Based on Tuchel's comments, the call up of Chalobah allows Jarrell Quansah - nominally a central defender - to be the cover right back for James, so that could be what we see against Panama this weekend. There is simply no point in risking the Chelsea skipper for that one, and you would like to think Tuchel will see it that way too.

Let's wait and see. Hopefully nothing too serious.